load for new 338 lapua

[radmcg]

I just had Mike Crain in Arkansas finish my 338 Lapua and need to break her in. I have everything to reload but no factory loaded Ammo. I also don't have a fired case to use to measure my cartridge length to measure to the lands. The chamber is a "PTG tac match" chamber for magazine feeding. I really don't want to waste 100 bucks on a box of factory stuff. But also don't want to load a bunch of rounds with no idea where the lands are for seating depth. I have a hornady gauge set and can make my own dummy cases (once I have a fired case) but I have to get the case mouth opened up so the projectile will fit easily. (My dies are redding comps no expander). Short of a fired case any ideas? I have 300 bergers and 300 SMKs any idea a safe OAl length so I can load a few rounds. If I'm missing something really stupid please let me know. Just don't want to ride all the way to the range fire one round and come home.
AHA
Rad

 

[dpreston]

Re: load for new 338 lapua

I would load a dummy round to your max magazine depth and try and chamber it. Then keep seating the bullet deeper until your bolt goes all the way forward and you can close it. Once your close, try coloring your bullet with a permanent marker... That can also help tell you if your contacting the lands if you can't feel it in the bolt... Just look for the rubbed off section. Aside from just ordering a 338 case already threaded, you don't have many options. I load my 338 LM with 300 smk's to 3.610 so it will fit in my badger DBM. I'm quite a ways from the lands but I still get dead nuts accuracy with it. Your going to have to seat the Berger vld's quite a bit longer than the smk's to get the same length to the ogive.

 

[radmcg]

Re: load for new 338 lapua

Thanks for the suggestion. Like a DA i just placed an order with sinclair and totally forgot about a pre-done hornady case. Anyway I' try it your way until I can get some fired cases.
Thanks
Rad